Originally Posted by
Ridefreemc
UPDATE
I went with Old Man Mountain's Pizza rack up front and I am carrying my "bedroom" (sleeping bag, air mattress, tent) and rain jacket on that - all about 10 pounds. For the rear I went with a lovely large Fabio's Chest, which is so well thought out. Tons of room and really versatile bag. It sits on my Carradice Expedition bag support. In that are my clothes, camp shoes, stove/cup, breakfast food and snacks, toiletries, and electronics - all under 10 pounds. Spare tube and tools are occupying the triangle area where the seat stay and seat tube meet and are secured on there with zip ties - out of the way, as I hope to never use them.
I swapped out my drop bars for my Jones Bars and I'm glad I did. I love the looks and feel of the drop bars, but on longer rides I have issues because I use only one hand position on the brake hoods 99% of the time. With the Jones Bars I'm shifting to about three or four positions regularly and can lower down on my elbows comfortably and with stability if needed for aero.
The bike with racks, bag and empty water bottles is 35 pounds. With all the above plus water I'm expecting to be at approximately 55-60 pounds.
Gear ratios are 34 tooth up front and an 11-speed (11-42) in the back. With the tires listed below I'm at a 22.6 low gear inch and close to 87 high.
Running Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 42mm wide tires with tubes. SKS Matt black plastic fenders are mounted too.
Cross country route maps arrived Saturday and downloaded TransAm and Western Express onto my Coros Dura.
So I will ride until my body, my mind, OR the road gives out
your total load weight is fine.
I ride drops and Jones bars and while I like both (in fact, got my Jones bar bike out for the first time just the other day, I live in real winter country and there were two unusually warm days recently and the road salt was washed away).
I dunno, I switch hand positions all the time with drops, one of the reasons I love them for hand comfort.
Show photos sometime.
Supremes are great tires, alas no more.
The 42mm ones ride very well and are quite light, Just be very aware of the thin sidewall so don't ride up against hard stuff.
Other than offroad riding, I don't really get the 1x thing, a double would be so much nicer and more versatile, and give you a wider gear range, lower low and higher high, and you could even put a closer cassette on back.
22.7 low gear is just so so, decades of touring has consistently proven that for me.